UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH FORMER MINISTER JOE HABINEZA

Dressed in casual clothes, already enjoying a comfortable evening after a long session of tennis.He gets up with a calm but still eager manner  ready to reveal his story. A tale of his life, an account that has defined him and consequenty made him who he is, a story that has now led him to a new chapter awaiting to be unravelled. An avid sportman joe habineza strikes as a loving father with a unique personality,not just a politician but one of the most influential figures in our society. He is also a man whose passion drive and livewire personality has made a difference and whose success made him the easy target of outrageous controversy. The perfect bulls eye for tarnishing the image of the stae through a spiteful political motive

Born in Kayenzi now known as Kamonyi District, his mother always used to tell him as a young boy that he would grow up to be a leader. “I was always calling the shots, from being the school head-boy to being the captain of the sports team,” the former minister of Sports and culture nostalgically recalls.  Such was his remarkable display of leadership since he was very young, a characteristic that would continue to mark his long and successful career path.

After graduating with an information Communication Technology degree in Rwanda , he continued to embark on that particular career course, for the next 15 years, working as the ICT manager of the alcoholic beverages manufacturer, Heineken. It was a long journey full of twists and turns that eventually led him to work in other African states. When I ask him if he initially planned to pursue a career in politics, he mentions that he never envisioned that career path but was still influenced by it especially during the liberation of the country through his support and admiration of the Rwanda Patriotic Front ideology and cause

He is a man whose experience transcends the geographical bounds of our nation. When asked about Rwanda’s development relative to those other countries, he says, “We possess the work ethic and dedication that is superior to that displayed in some of the other nations, for instance, in the DR Congo, where I once worked. Nevertheless, we still have to take it one step further with more entrepreneurship and risk taking as we are still lagging behind in those.”

His extensive and thriving career in the private sector eventually led him to venture into the world of politics. Appointed to the post of Minister of Sports, Youth and Culture in 2005, he admits to have been first surprised, but embraced his new role with the gusto and vigour that have always been the hallmark of his character. Such are the traits that have undoubtedly wrought the underpinning to his incredible passion and exuberance that he ceaselessly implements in his line of duty.

“I embraced my new found role and undertook it with a lot of passion,” says Joe.

“I always strive to do things at 120 percent; it is always that passion that will take you that extra mile.”

About the key to success and ability to reaching out to so many and bringing about a positive influence, he says. “It is all about teamwork, knowing those you are accountable to and respecting them while at the same time, being an example to your subordinates and reaching out to them as opposed to being ruthless.”

“But most importantly, it is integrating that strong spirit of never giving up, which is essential to attaining success or establishing a successful institution and sustaining it,” Habineza reveals.

Despite his eventful reign as a cabinet minister, he was recently subject to a scandal through malicious publications on the Internet. He maintains that was an event initiated with malevolent purposes that go beyond blemishing the reputation of one man.

“Those publications had very negative and dangerous intentions. They were all about negation, aimed at tarnishing the image of the government with the purpose of inciting the people to be pulled in by all the false information and rubbish that was published,” he observes, adding that it was a plot that was set up, with much bigger and far more dangerous implications.

“I was at the centre of it all and as a responsible person at the service of my country, I had to resign in order not to associate the government with such kind of things,” he states. 

On his vision and future plans, he says that he still plans on servicing his nation at whatever level, be it the private or the public sector.

He certainly depicts the image of a resolute person with a strong and powerful vision for himself and his country as well.

TRAUMA

The mind is truly a remarkable thing. We humans possess a phenomenal asset that in all its complexity serves as a tool to not only help us get by in our endeavors but to also be creative and innovative when we put the marvel that we call our brain to use. The mind can work for us, but regrettably against us as well. Even though we are the masters of our brains, we are still subjects to its functioning and processes. Our minds not only characterise who we are but also influence the forces that manipulate our thoughts, behavior and personality. The aggregate of these forces form our psyche. Accordingly, any damage to this psyche can be detrimental to our mental wellbeing and result in adverse consequences such as psychological trauma.

Psychological trauma is any damage to our psyche that occurs as a result of a traumatic experience. Sadly enough the frightening or disconcerting memories of the trauma can continue to take hold of an individual long after the event making them experience overwhelming and distressing emotions. At the Rebero memorial is when I got an up-close and personal view of the manifestation of this phenomenon, an experience that was both instructive and terrifying. At the site I witnessed numerous genocide survivors being victims once again of the dark past that was haunting them. This horrendous recollection of events was gripping their sanity and plunging it into a whirlwind of intense sadness, terror  and desperation  . What I witnessed before my eyes was beyond description and it carried with it all the sorrow and pain caused by the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

What the survivors were experiencing  is refered to as situational psychological trauma. I type of trauma which is man-made or caused by natural disasters. These intense traumatic experiences may lead to PTSD (Post traumatic stress disorder). PTSD is an anxiety disorder that occurs as an outcome of psychological trauma. Symptoms of PTSD include those such as having flashbacks or mental re experiencing of the trauma. A fact that would explain the unfortunate episodes that those survivors were going through.

The point to bring out however is the consequences that this trauma can bring and what can be done to help these survivors as they are struggle with this tormenting part of their history. Psychological trauma can produce lasting effects that might not only affect the mind of the victim but also those affiliated with them. The victim of the trauma might develop aggressive behavior towards others due to frustration over the inability to control some of the PTSD symptoms . A feeling of dissociation or detachment from people might gradually occur as a person feels more and more disconnected to them due lack of trust or a general aversion towards them. This would particularly occur if the victim suffered a trauma that was caused by people such as the case of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi

Lack of interest in everyday activities can develop as a person’s attitude tends towards apathy. This might particularly affect the way they function in the society ,hindering their success in activities that might be essential to them such as a working job. Most importantly victims of this mental trauma might feel permanently damaged giving rise to a mindset of desperation, distress and intense lack of hope for the future. This is an aspect that might consequently act as an invisible barrier towards resilience , courage and determination …. TO BE CONTINUED

THE COMEMMORATION

 

The 7 day commemoration of the Genocide against the tutsi marked its closure today at the Gikondo Rebero memorial center. The memorial  site which was specifically built in honour of the government officials that died as heroes during 1994 , was host to hundreds of people who came to gather around for one more official tribute to their loved ones. You could tell from the sombre mood of the crowd, to the terrible cries of the survivors reliving their darkest moments, that the anguish that filled people’s hearts was still very present. This showed the ongoing struggle of the atrocious moments that tormented people’s memories.

” It is not just a day of remembrance but also a day of empowerment , a day of unity and recognition to what happened, so as to serve as a learning lesson for working together in unison towards the path to prosperity “. Those were words the President of Ibuka presented as he addressed his speech . “When we are here it is an occasion to look onto the past , so we can plant the right seeds , that will bear the fruit of freedom , truth and love, freeing us from any corruption and oppression”.He went on to say . “ We should be inspired by the heroes that stood their ground amidst the atrocities, simply because they valued themselves and the truth above anything.”

This event portrayed how those heroes had died for this truth , a truth that must not be twisted and it was our responsibility to preserve it and protect it by any means. This was something that was also stressed by the President of Senate in his speech. “Even though it is the end of the commemoration, we should continue to remember and honour those who left us and most importantly to give out a helping hand , to those in need and still in pain. “ Urged the President of Senate as he concluded the event.

  

The heroes undoubtedly displayed the perfect example of upholding the truth and standing by their dignity, principles which formed the themes of the 17^th commemoration of the Genocide against the tutsi,. Even though they had died , what they had died for remained behind . Uwiseze Yvonne , despite not being present during the terrible time , was heavily affiliated with the survivors and victims and had a good insight on this . “ Even though it is impossible to get over what happened , people throughout this long journey have become gradually more resilient . I asked how profoundly she had been affected by the Genocide.?“ I was personally not around when all this happened, but I lost many of family members. We have been struggling together ever since so i am deeply affected.“ Says Yvonne. “ We have come a long way since 1994 and things are still improving for us , we have refused to let our past tie us down.” It was a good display of optimism , resilience and  giving value to oneself . This could be seen from even some of the survivors themselves. Kayitesi Clementine was a young girl when she witnessed the massacres . “ I can never forget and I will never get over this.” She says, as tears trickle down her cheeks. “ But what happened is irreversible, i can’t bring them back , i have learnt to try my best to be strong no matter how hard it is.” This was courage in every sense of the word and it still lingered within the broken hearts of the survivors.

This courage was helping them overcome this immense burden that they carried. It was leading them to the right path, a path that was set by the heroes buried at that memorial site. This courage was giving them strength and value. It was mending their broken hearts and helping them take part in rebuilding Rwanda. Even those such as Uwiseze Yvonne, where giving out a helping hand to those in need and honouring those that they had lost. Showing how Rwandans were not only remembering the victims that had perished but also helping out ,serving and contributing in the rebuilding of Rwanda.

Honouring the legacy of our heroes and commemorating our loved ones should not end here. It should be an ongoing reflection that should serve as the tool towards maintaining this powerful truth and giving value to ourselves. Principles which will guide us as we stride on to prosperity and development.

Another level of family planning

In the old African tradition , a man’s power to procreate was once venerated and regarded as the ultimate symbol of virility. Centuries later , this fundamental feature of masculinity is now being used to combat one of Rwanda’s biggest issues that is the escalating population growth. Estimated in 2010 at having a population of 10.2 million , Rwanda already known for being one of the most densely populated countries in Africa is still growing in number at an alarming rate . This perhaps being the reason why , the Government more specifically the ministry of Health is resolving to extreme measures in order tackle this issue. The ministry of Health expects to have 700000 voluntaries enrolling in a program of vasectomy which will go hand in hand with a nationwide circumcision for men in an HIV prevention campaign. Implementation of this method of contraception , however raises a few questions that would need to be addressed. How extreme as a measures of contraception is this program? Does it have a high chance of being successful ? Have the other alternatives been exhausted ? What could be the consequences in the long run of undertaking this plan?

The vasectomy involves a surgical operation in which the patient will be permanently sterilized making it both unnatural and rather extreme in nature. Nonetheless even though the patient will be rid of his god given ability it is not a violation of Human Rights as it is done under their full consent. The ministry of health expects to face a strong opposition to this program and rightfully so , since the potential subjects will not only be unfamiliar  with such methods of family planning but unwilling to take away the one thing that is a fundamental feature of their manhood. It should be noted however that these 700000 men will be volunteers therefore enrolling in such a program may further more imply the acceptance from their part of the incapacity to restrain oneself from using other means of prevention or simply unprotected sex. A character trait that might not be prevalent in most men. Chances are that it might not be successful but even though it’s 99% efficiency makes it the best method of family planning, should the government still go ahead and raise a campaign for it? I think not. Its aim for killing two birds with one stone by a simultaneous undertaking of circumcision and vasectomy in order to fight the HIV epidemic and population growth, might backfire in the long run.

The reason is simply that the two do not go hand in hand. The campaign for circumcision will be done under the aim of trying to reduce the chances of HIV infection through heterosexual intercourse. This fact is true, but at a very trivial extent.  HIV is transmitted through bodily fluids be it semen or any vaginal fluid, circumcision merely if not negligibly reduces contact with such. leading a mass campaign that preaches circumcision as a measure for HIV prevention could be terrible as it could lead to a great misconception, that if spread within a population that has a high percentage of illiteracy and low levels of education could be disastrous. In such circumstances people might regard this as a free pass to unprotected sex which will ultimately go against its intended purpose of HIV prevention.

Not only that but undergoing a vasectomy means not being able to reproduce therefore reducing the need for condoms. Reducing condom use could possibly increase gradually. If it happened, this could contribute to an increase in HIV infection . Both the ideas of reduced HIV prevention and perfect birth control when combined together act as a the perfect ingredients towards less condom usage simply because the need for them is reduced. However when looking at things from a more critical approach, one can see that those two ingredients are merely recipes for disaster in the future. This is because the condom is the most decisive tool for killing two birds with one stone. It does both act as a means of HIV prevention and method of contraception ,  a feature that vasectomy and circumcision do not possess. Looking at things from a logical point of view , condom usage is the means at which I believe should be fully implemented and anything that might potentially act as a barrier should be considered and acted upon.

Vasectomy is undoubtedly the best means of birth control and no one can disregard the fact of population growth in Rwanda and the negative consequences it brings to our nation. I think it should be executed and encouraged to any volunteer however not at the scale at which it is planned on being done. This major population problem and HIV pandemic due to its sensitive nature should be looked act in a more cautious way. Because even though vasectomy might seem to solve one problem it might quite possibly lead to another. Being executed at such a scale could potentially lead to negative consequences in the future. Therefore precaution should be taken into consideration because as the saying goes it’s never best to win the battle and lose the war.

Youth

Rwanda is one of the youngest countries in the world , with more than half of the population being under 18 years old. This amazing statistical fact I believe carries implications that could serve as a powerful asset towards the development of the nation. Even though we are a third world country, still subjected to issues such as AIDS and poverty, even though we have encountered and gone through one the worst atrocities in the history of mankind , there is still a powerful hope that is inherent  in our a country. A hope .that resides in our youth . We constitute most of what is Rwanda . And despite being the leaders of tommorow , we still represent the present. A present that is today , a present that is now.

Yesterday was when I truly experienced the profoundity of how the youth can impact the nation. "The walk to remember" ,was an extraordinary display for the comememoration of the Genocide against the tutsi. An event that was not only spearheaded by the youth but also majorly constituted by it. Thousands of participants marched in this powerful movement , that was held with the theme of  "upholding the truth and preserving our dignity". A goal in which in order to be attained ,I firmly believe  requires a key involvement of the youth. In  undertaking the enormous responsibility that is rebuilding Rwanda , we must do it based on a firm foundation of truth with proper recognition of the past that will consequently bring clarity into the future. A truth that will not only liberate us, but guide us to the right path in rebuilding our nation..

Preserving our dignity on the most part , might involve preserving the legacy that defines who we are as Rwandese. This powerful truth and pride that is our dignity transcends the barriers of the present as it is a legacy that will be passed on to us. A legacy that that will be carried onto the future by none other than the youth. We must acknowledge this great responsibility and with what i witnessed yesterday , during the walk, we, the youth have taken yet again an important step towards this goal.

I firmly believe we can influence the nation in a major way ! Not only because we have the power in numbers as the facts suggest , but also because in order to embark on the path of rebuilding , the first step of starting afresh ,coming from the ground up or building on a new  stronger foundation , is a fundamental principle of development. We, the youth are the gate way to this new first step , we not only carry ideas of old that are crucial to development , but we also possess those of our own. We have that extra step , that all in all combined  give us the right tools towards establishing a positive sound future .

As the youth we have the great power to use preventive measures as a powerful weapon against the day to day issues that we battle with. Poverty , sickness, education  are all problems that can be tackled on the early onset . Being part of the youth may imply having the high chance of combating this issues when it is still early and using preventive measures as opposed to resolving to the cure. The key to this is being educated from the ground up and applying those principles learned in order to tackle those major concerns such as prevention against the HIV epidemic or poverty in the long run through  provision of education to many more kids.

We are the pivot towards Rwanda's development goal, its fate rests purely in our hands. We must therefore concede to this responsibility and  begin employing the means necessary to reach the goal of enriching our nation and living in prosperity  for the future starts now.

WALK TO REMEMBER

Today is no ordinary Saturday , in a few hours , I and hundreds, maybe thousands of other people will embark on  a trip  in tribute and honor of  the countless lives that perished during the Genocide against the tutsi . The walk to remember , more than just a walk but  a powerful act of unity and remembrance .As I contemplate on this Important but yet mournful day , my grief is gradually replaced by pride and honor for taking part in such a great event. To be part of thousands on a journey of giving value not only to those that are gone but to ourselves in the goal of preserving our dignity, building towards a better future and honoring our loved ones.

With further reflection , my mind slowly drifts away to april 2009 , a time when I got my first personal exposure to the horrors and effects of the genocide. I had gone there with my classmates , on a school trip and I still remember the scene as I walked down the hallways. The atrocities that we saw around seemed endless. Everywhere we saw were horrific pictures , a mutilated body on one side a man with a machete on another. It seemed all too dreadful too look at even from outside the frame of a picture. I could only imagine what it must have been like in reality. To my horror, I would soon get an idea as I walked down further. To this day I cringe when I remember what I heard in the room that lay ahead of me. As we approached it, my ears filled with screams, cries, and moans. Before me were about a hundred people, most screaming in fear and shouting for their loved ones. They had these terrible vocal expressions, caused by suppressed emotions that only trauma could trigger under such circumstances. I had never encountered such terrible pain before and at that moment, I wished I hadn't. What happened at the memorial center triggered within me strong emotions. In a way, I felt traumatized as well. I was shocked and saddened by what I had witnessed. These survivors were going through a terrible ordeal, reliving memories of people murdering their whole family, or of running and fearing for their lives.

I felt angry and ashamed that these terrible things had happened in my country. These people I had just seen were probably going to be haunted perpetually by these horrors that had ruined their life. It felt extremely unfair and unacceptable, and at the moment I felt trapped like them in this vicious cycle of sorrow and grief. How were we ever going to move on from all that? Countless people had been killed in the genocide and that this had undoubtedly left scars in people's hearts, feeling them with grief, revenge, fear and despair. Eventually I realized how this memorial did more than just keep us into the depths of our dark past. It was there to remind us never to repeat the same mistakes but also to make us appreciate and value how far we had come as a country. It was also there as a reminder to those of us who had been more fortunate, that they were people who still suffered deeply from this great tragedy. Seeing all those people in deep pain and sorrow made me realize that I had a responsibility towards them. Remembering our past and honoring those who were dead was crucial, but it was just as important to use these memories constructively to build a better Rwanda. As a young Rwandan, I had always been taught to look to the future. I had been raised to believe that I would be part of a generation that was going to help transform my country. I therefore felt compelled to take matters into my own hands. My friends and I had just witnessed how many of my countrymen were still deeply affected by the genocide, and because of that I felt like I had an obligation to do something about it. For the greater good of our nation, this is something that all of us Rwandans had to undertake. Many of us were now damaged, but I believed it wasn't too late to make things better. Nothing was set in stone and even stone like they say could be chiseled.

That memorial  center , I believe was a stepping stone for me on this path that I and so many Rwandans  are compelled to undertake, a path of unity such as this walk to remember , a path of loving one another and our country , and most importantly a path of development and prosperity . Up to this day it remains more than just  a memory but a lesson , a spark , a motivator not only for me , but for my brothers and sisters to preserve our dignity so that the words “never again”  become principles by which we live by in order to build towards a brighter future and in loving memory of the countless victims of the Genocide.